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TI-2026-20837 Aliases CVE-2026-25770

Wazuh has Privilege Escalation to Root via Cluster Protocol File Write

Priority HIGH 74CWE-22Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
High
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Privilege escalation
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-269.

Summary

Wazuh is a free and open source platform used for threat prevention, detection, and response. Starting in version 3.9.0 and prior to version 4.14.3, a privilege escalation vulnerability exists in the Wazuh Manager's cluster synchronization protocol. The `wazuh-clusterd` service allows authenticated nodes to write arbitrary files to the manager’s file system with the permissions of the `wazuh` system user. Due to insecure default permissions, the `wazuh` user has write access to the manager's main configuration file (`/var/ossec/etc/ossec.conf`). By leveraging the cluster protocol to overwrite `ossec.conf`, an attacker can inject a malicious `<localfile>` command block. The `wazuh-logcollector` service, which runs as root, parses this configuration and executes the injected command. This chain allows an attacker with cluster credentials to gain full Root Remote Code Execution, violating the principle of least privilege and bypassing the intended security model. Version 4.14.3 fixes the issue.

Why it matters now

Exploitation Proof of concept CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.01029 63rd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Fixed wazuh (wazuh): 4.14.3

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
Poc
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Total

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
Wazuhwazuh3.9.0 to before 4.14.34.14.3Patch availableCNA
  • wazuh VendorWazuh Affected 3.9.0 to before 4.14.3 Fixed in 4.14.3 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:wazuh:wazuh:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*3.9.0 to before 4.14.3VulnerableWazuh
  • cpe:2.3:a:wazuh:wazuh:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.9.0 to before 4.14.3 Vulnerable ·Wazuh

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA wazuh (wazuh) Fixed in 4.14.3

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-25770

References

Exploit 1

  • TI-2025-17783 Remote code execution in Wazuh server KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.9
  • TI-2026-23722 Path traversal in wazuh CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.9
  • TI-2024-01157 Remote code execution and local privilege escalation in Wazuh Windows agent via NetNTLMv2 hash theft CVSS 4.0CRITICAL 9.5
  • TI-2026-22556 Wazuh: Pre-auth stack-based buffer overflow in wazuh-remoted print_hex_string() due to signed char promotion on x86_64 CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.2
  • TI-2026-35598 Wazuh: cluster peer can read arbitrary master files and forge offline REST API… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.1
  • TI-2026-35467 Wazuh: merged-file header path traversal in cluster sync allows arbitrary file write under WAZUH_PATH in Wazuh manager CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.1
See all 72 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences